Christian Refugee Councilhttps://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca
Sponsor Refugees | Followers of Jesus Christ United to Help RefugeesTue, 31 Jul 2018 03:21:01 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8https://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cropped-WHSORGLOGOFAVICON-32x32.pngChristian Refugee Councilhttps://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca
3232Libya: migrants sold at auction as slaveshttps://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca/libya-migrants-sold-at-auction-as-slaves/
Mon, 08 Jan 2018 19:44:33 +0000https://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca/?p=26860Read More]]>“Who needs a minor? He’s a miner, a big strong man, he’s going to dig. CNN journalists filmed a human auction hiding their cameras in Libya, not far from the capital, Tripoli. In the space of a few minutes, they witnessed the sale of a dozen migrants, handed over by smugglers for sums ranging from 500 to 700 Libyan dinars (up to 435 euros). These “slave markets” would be held once or twice a month.
This survey of the American channel highlights the situations of slavery to which are reduced many migrants transiting through Libya to Italy, gateway to Europe. Interviewed by CNN journalists, a former slave who managed to escape tells his daily life: “They force you to work and they beat you. A Libyan official questioned in October confirmed that he had heard “rumors” but “nothing is happening in front of us”. Following CNN’s revelations, the authorities assured that an investigation would be opened.
Thousands of migrants and refugees cross Libya each year in a better life in Europe. But thanks to a recent crackdown, a few boats are making it to the sea, leaving a human smugglers with a backlog of passengers. So they’re selling them off as slaves.
“Horrors unimaginable”
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein on Tuesday (November 14th) strongly denounced the deterioration of the conditions of detention of migrants in Libya, describing as “inhuman” the cooperation of the European Union (EU) with this country. He also reported the suffering of these migrants, saying that this “slavery of modern times” constituted an “outrage to the conscience of humanity”.
“The international community can not continue to turn a blind eye to the unimaginable horrors endured by migrants in Libya, and claim that the situation can only be resolved by improving conditions of detention. ”
At the forefront of the agreements with the Libyans, the Italian Minister of the Interior, Marco Minniti, responded by mentioning the efforts of his country for the voluntary repatriation of 9,500 of these migrants this year to their countries of origin and the impending transfer of a thousand “fragile” people (women, children, the elderly) to third countries.
A practice more and more frequent.
This is not the first time that such a trade is denounced. In April, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that trafficking in human beings has become an increasingly common practice among smugglers.
Interviewed by IOM, migrants from West Africa said they had been bought and resold in garages and car parks in the town of Sabha, a town in southern Libya, through which many exiles pass. They are sold between 200 and 300 dollars (between 190 and 280 euros) and retained for two to three months on average.
Originally from Nigeria, Senegal and The Gambia, migrants are captured as they make their way to northern Libya, from where they intend to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean. Throughout this trip, they are prey to armed groups and networks of smugglers, who sometimes try to extort money from them. Most migrants are used as day laborers in the construction and agriculture sectors.
But who is Buying these migrants? We are seeing only where they are being sold but we are not saying who is buying them.
We need to stage an embargo and sanctions against Libya and all countries involved in this shameful trading. We must ask our MP’s where we are to take the matter to our Government and vote Bill to sanction Libya and the countries involved.
]]>Uganda – Kyangwali Refugee Camphttps://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca/help-bring-juhudi-family-to-canada-funds/
Thu, 26 Oct 2017 15:17:45 +0000https://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca/?p=3884Read More]]>Kyangwali Refugee Settlement is a refugee camp in Hoima District in western Uganda.
Kyangwali refugee settlement was established in the 1960s to accommodate Rwandan refugees. After many Rwandans repatriated voluntarily in 1994, the settlement has hosted mostly Congolese refugees. Since the start of a new refugee influx from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in mid December 2017, Kyangwali’s population has nearly doubled from 36,713 in December 2017 to 68,703 in March 2018, putting a heavy strain on existing services. Many new humanitarian partners have arrived in the settlement to respond to the emergency.

Gaps & Challenges

Refugees reported a lack of nutritional diversity in food distribution and inconsistent ration sizes of maize, flour, and beans. However, full food rations are provided on a monthly basis either in-kind or cash. With residents unable to gather sufficient wood for cooking, food preparation is an issue.
Cholera and diarrheal illnesses have spread across the settlement leading to mortalities. This has been exacerbated by insufficient household latrines, the sharing of communal block latrines, inadequate water and soap supplies, and limited water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) awareness programs.
There is insufficient medical personnel and infrastructure. Refugees reported that some ill patients end up sleeping on clinic floors due to lack of sufficient beds, including children, pregnant women, and elderly refugees with no separate quarters. Limited diagnostic equipment, translation issues, and a lack of medication have also contributed to poor health services for the population.
Income generating activities are limited and allocated plots are too small to cultivate for livelihoods purposes. Refugees who have lived in the settlement for years were using certain areas, such as Maratatu and Mombasa, for farming; this land has recently been allocated to new arrivals, heightening tensions among refugees and between refugees and host community members.
Inclement weather has destroyed emergency shelters, forcing some refugees to sleep outside without any protection. Many refugees are still waiting to receive shelter kits and some persons with special needs (PSNs) need assistance constructing their homes. Previously, some households were relocated without plastic sheets, but as of February 2018, those who did not receive now have plastic sheets for shelters, as well as all new arrivals.
Access to water is limited. There are few water points, which are congested, leading to long waiting times. Some refugees reported sleeping at the tap stands or waking up early to travel long distances in order to claim a spot in line.
Schools have been unable to accommodate new arrivals and many Francophone students with education certificates in French face difficulties enroling. There is a strong desire for residents of all ages to learn English in order to better assimilate.

Strengths & Opportunities

Strong coordination structures across implementing partners, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Uganda’s Office of the Prime Minister, and the local government, contributes to a response that is robust and adaptable. This strength was demonstrated in the effective cross-sectoral mass mobilization response to the cholera outbreak.
A positive relationship with the host community and established refugee welfare council (RWC) structures ensures a safe and harmonious environment.

]]>Malawi- Dzaleka Refugee Camphttps://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca/resettling-refugee-kabera-family-to-canada-funds/
Fri, 15 Sep 2017 01:20:04 +0000https://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca/?p=3870Read More]]>The number of people who have fled to Malawi has risen from almost 17,000 in 2013 to more than 37,000 in March 2018 and new asylum-seekers, particularly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are arriving each month.

Most of those of concern to UNHCR live in Dzaleka refugee camp, which has a population of nearly 34,000, near the capital Lilongwe.

More than half of Malawians live on less than one US Dollar per day. The vast majority rely on subsistence farming. Industry is limited and major exports include: tea, coffee, sugar, and tobacco. Despite being a poor nation, Malawi currently hosts close to 40,000 refugees. Most refugees come from from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

The largest refugee camp in Malawi is Dzaleka located in Dowa District, around 50 km from Lilongwe, the capital city. Dzaleka was established by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1994 in response to a surge of forcibly displaced people fleeing genocide, violence and wars in Burundi, Rwanda and the D.R. Congo. Dzaleka Refugee Camp hosts around 28,000 refugees, whereas the rest are living in the district of Mwanza bordering Mozambique. Prior to becoming a refugee camp, the Dzaleka facility had served as a political prison to around 6, 000 inmates.

Malawi’s policies regulating the movement and the right to employment of refugees make opportunities to earn a living outside the camp very limited. Therefore, the majority of refugees are completely reliant on food aid and other external assistance for survival.

It is in this difficult environment that There is Hope works with the refugees and their host community by providing access to business development, education and spiritual development programmes.

There is Hope was established in 2006 by Innocent Magambi, who was born and lived as a refugee for 27 years across five different African refugee camps. With his experience, Innocent brings unique insight into the underlying realities of the refugee crisis in sub-Saharan Africa.

]]>Build a School in Kasenyi Refugee Camp Congohttps://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca/construction-of-the-medical-school-of-homeopathy-in-kibabi/
Fri, 15 Sep 2017 01:17:09 +0000https://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca/?p=3866Read More]]>Help us build the School in Refugee camp Kasenyi, Masisi, Congo-DRC. The School will be for refugees and will help refugee kids access basic education. Kasenyi camp is a house to 20.000 refugees and their kids are not going to school at all. 500.000 CAD$ are needed to build the school.
By donating you are making an impact in the lives of the poor.

]]>Build a Clinic in Refugee Camp Masisi Congohttps://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca/construction-of-the-homeopathic-teaching-hospital-in-kibabi/
Fri, 15 Sep 2017 01:15:32 +0000https://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca/?p=3864Read More]]>Kasenyi Camp is a home to more than 20.000 refugees yet they do not have a Clinic. People die everyday from ailments that are easily treatable by lack of access to medical care. Kasenyi camp is located in Rural Masisi District, in Eastern Congo-DRC in North-Kivu province.
By constructing a clinic we hope to make a huge impact for the refugees. We hope 300.000 CAD$ is enough for Building the Clinic.
By Donating you are saving lives. All proceedings of the donation go to build the clinic. Administrating the funds is 1% as we use Volunteers to carry on the project and volunteer resources to administer the donated funds.

]]>Send Easter Gift Box to Refugee Kidshttps://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca/help-resettle-kabera-family-refugees-from-zambia/
Sat, 06 May 2017 21:27:22 +0000http://www.christianrefugeecouncil.ca/?p=2765Read More]]>Every year we want to send Easter Gift Box to Refugee Kids. This year around Easter 2019 we want to send Gifts to Refugee Kids at Kyangali Refugee Camp. We want to send at Easter as a symbol how Jesus suffered on Easter just like Refugees are suffering. We also want to give them hope that as Jesus resurrected even so their plight will soon be over. By donating to this campaign you are putting a smile on the faces of the most vulnerable kids.